As you prepare to sell your home, you’ll probably consider the best way to advertise it. Surprisingly, advertising doesn’t work. But marketing does, and there is a big difference. An agent will be more involved in “marketing” your home, and here’s why.

A single photo and description of your home’s features, in a newspaper or magazine is simply “advertising,” and is not going to generate much interest. A recent consumer survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® revealed that fewer than 5 percent of buyers purchased the actual home that they saw advertised. It also found that over 80% used the Internet to locate the home that they purchased.

While ads focus on a “product,” marketing involves targeting consumers based on their lifestyle and the opportunities provided by what you are offering. REALTORS® keep track of all good inquiries and have a list of ready and willing buyers with whom they have already been working, and they understand the needs and qualifications of those buyers. Chances are that an agent can “market” your home to many of them without ever placing an ad or holding an open house.

Buyers want to purchase a version of a “dream,” not the bricks, windows, and siding that the dream is made of. Ask your REALTOR® about how they plan to “market” that dream to the buyers they already know and to other agents and their buyers.

Call me at locally at 363-5464 if you need information to assist you with your real estate decisions. For Long Distance, call me at 1-800-724-7149 or e-mail me, if you prefer, at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com. We will be happy to share our knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.